Horse Sense: Moscow Flyer is just the ticket

Down the years, the Queen Mother Champion Chase has been consistently the kindest race for punters at the Cheltenham Festival - and Moscow Flyer looks more than capable of upholding the tradition.

The reason why favourites or those prominent in the betting do so well in this particular race is not hard to fathom. The requirements to win - blistering speed and precision jumping - are in short supply and, when they appear, punters are not slow to latch on.

A year ago Moscow Flyer showed himself to be a two-mile champion in waiting with an eye-catching success in the Arkle Chase, ranking alongside the best winners of the race in recent years. He remains unbeaten in completed starts over fences.

Apart from an unfortunate incident at Sandown in December when he ran into the back of Flagship Uberalles and unseated his rider, Moscow Flyer has shown himself to be as good as ever this season, with wins at Leopardstown and Punchestown on ground that was far from suitable.

The quicker surface on offer will be to his advantage, particularly in the jumping department, and if Jessica Harrington has him in the same condition as a year ago he should emulate Remittance Man and Klairon Davis who followed up success in the Arkle by landing the two-mile chase championship.

I recommended an each-way investment at 25-1 on One Knight for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase last month. The Philip Hobbs chaser, now trading at about 10-1, remains of interest.

Although softer ground would have been ideal, he has won on good and this out-and-out galloper should be suited by the stamina test on offer this afternoon.

With the exception of one race at Newbury, his jumping has been excellent and he looks a value proposition in a race where it could pay to take on the market leaders.

Stormez is Martin Pipe's 'banker' of the meeting in the four-mile National Hunt Chase but he takes some organising at his fences and may not prove an ideal ride for an amateur.

Given his skinny odds there could be some each-way value with Young Ottoman who possesses stamina in abundance.